Manage Layers

Layers are used in Trimble Business Center and other applications to organize and display objects in your project. The Layer Manager allows you to create, edit, and delete layers in your project. It also allows you to import and export layers contained in a .layer file so they can be shared with other applications (for example, the Feature Definition Manager (FDM).

The Layer Manager:

  • Is a non-modal pane, meaning that your changes to many layer properties (color, line style, etc.) will appear in graphic views in real-time as you make them. Changes to layer names appear immediately in the View Filter Manager (VFM). If you delete an empty layer in the manager, it is also removed from the VFM. Since the Layer Manager is non-model, other commands can also be run while it is open.
  • Can be floated anywhere on your screen or another monitor. It can also be resized, as well as docked by clicking and dragging the titlebar to a pane edge in the program.
  • Enables you to sort layers by clicking any column heading (except Delete).
  • Allows you to use standard [Shift] + click and [Control] + click hotkeys to multi-select several layers to change their properties at the same time. Each change to multiple layers can be reverted using a single undo.

    Note: If two layers are selected and you try to change the name, only one is changed because no duplicate layer names are not allowed.

  • Enables you to search for layers/filter the list by entering characters in the Filter box.
  • Can be launched from the FDM (select Edit > Layer Manager), but in this case the Layer Manager is modal: it cannot be docked, and you must click OK to see your changes in TBC graphic views and the VFM.

Prerequisites:

  • None.

Ways to access:

  • Select Layer Manager in CAD > Layers to display the Layer Manager dialog.

Options:

  • Protect - Check the box next to each layer that you want to prevent being deleted. If you ever need to delete the layer, you can remove the protection.
  • Group layer - Enables you to select a predefined group for each layers. To create layer groups, see Manage Layer Groups.
  • Display priority - Set the stack order for layers that overlap by selecting Foreground (on top), Normal (in the middle), or Background (on the bottom).
  • Print - Check the boxes for the layers you want to be printable. If an object is on a layer that is not visible, it is not printable, regardless of this setting. To print, an object's layer has to be both visible and printable.
  • Delete Unprotected Empty Layers - Remove all layers that do not contain objects and do not have the Protect property enabled.
  • Select Members – Select all of the objects on the layers currently highlighted in the Layer Manager.
  • Layer Group Manager – Open the command in which you can create and edit layer groups.

To create a new layer:

  1. Do either of the following:
    • Click the New Layer button in the Layer Manager dialog.
    • In any Layer selection drop-down list, press the Space bar or select <<New Layer>>to display the Layer Manager dialog.

    The Layer Name field is highlighted in a new editable row at the bottom of the list, as indicated by the Edit icon.

    The Layer Manager includes a list of all layers currently defined for the project, including protected default layers that are included in every new project. The layers are listed in alphabetical order.

  2. Enter a new name in the highlighted Layer Name field.
  3. Select the appropriate Layer Color, Line Style, and Line Weight.
  4. Optionally, check the Protect check box if you want to prevent the layer from being deleted even when it is "empty" (that is, no objects are associated with the layer).

    Note that you cannot deselect the Protect check box for the default layers 0 and Points. These layers cannot be deleted.

  5. Optionally, select a layer Groupto which you want to add the layer.
  6. Click OK.

    The new layer is now available for selection in any Layer selection drop-down list.

To find a layer by name/filter the layer list:

  1. Type any alphanumeric string in the Filter box and press [Enter].
  2. Delete the string from the Filter box and press [Enter] to see the full list of layers again.

    Note: You can also enter regular expressions (regex) in the box to find layers. See Reference: Regular Expressions for details.

To edit an existing layer:

  1. Make edits to any existing layer in the Layer Manager dialog as described in the previous procedure.
  2. Click Close.

To delete an existing layer:

Note that you cannot delete a layer to which one or more objects are associated. You must first disassociate the objects from the layer using their respective Properties panes.

You also cannot delete a layer that is protected (that is, its Protect check box is checked). You must first un-protect the layer by un-checking the Protect check box.

  1. Click the "X" Delete button located on the right-end of the row for each layer you want to delete.
  2. Click Close.

To import layers:

You can import into your project layers contained in a .layer file that was exported from another project or from other software packages (for example, Feature Definition Manager).

  1. Click the Import button located at the bottom of the Layer Manager dialog and select the .layer file you want to import.

    Layers that were defined in the .layers file display in the Layer Manager list and are available for selection. If any imported layer is part of a layer group, the layer group name is displayed in the Group drop-down list

  2. In the Layer Manager dialog, click Close.

To export layers:

You can export any or all of the layers defined in your project into a .layer file that can then be imported into other software packages (for example, Feature Definition Manager).

  1. Select the layers you want to export in the Layer Manager dialog.
  2. Click the Export button located at the bottom of the dialog, enter a name and location for the .layer file, and click Save.
  3. In the Layer Manager dialog, click Close.

Related topics:

Manage Layers Groups